Salvo firing



May 3, 1927. 1,627,174

J. H. HAMMOND, JR

SALVO FIRING Original Filed Aug. 22. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR MS A TTORNIS Y May 1927' J. H. HAMMOND. JR

SALVO FIRING 2 SheetsSheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 22, 1922 luvemtoz Patented May 3, 1927.

UNIT n ES V v 1,627,174 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR, GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

sAnVo FIRING.

I Application filed August 22, 1922, Serial No. 583,604. Renewed October 21, 1926.

- This invention relates to means for controlling projectiles and the like fired at a distant target.

Some of the objects of the inventionare to predetermine the course. of a salvo of projectiles fired at a distant target from projecting apparatuses or other weapons spaced apart; to predetermine the relative convergence or divergence of the several projectiles so fired; to control the courses of the respective projectiles so as to obtain a de-. sired spacing of the points on the target upon which the projectiles will impinge; to vary the convergence or divergence of the courses of .the'projectiles to compensate for varying distances or range of the target; to control automatically the course of the projectiles according to the relative positions of the target and the. projecting station and to compensate for the spacing of the sighting and projecting means.

Other objects will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompany drawings, inwhich Figure 1 shows diagramatic ally one form of projecting apparatus arranged to be controlled in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows the apparatus more in detail; and Figure 3 is an end view of a portion of the mechanism of Figure 2.

The projecting apparatus may be mounted upon a carrier or suitable movable body adapted to follow or approach the enemy. In naval warfare the carrier may take the form of a marine vessel such as a boat 10, and in order to fire" a salvo to destroy the enemy more quickly than with a single shot the projecting apparatus is preferably arranged in a plurality of spaced groups of weapons, such as a pair 11 and another pair 12. The projecting apparatuses may comprise such means for example, as torpedo tubes or other weapons, and each group is pivotally mounted, so that the tubes may be pointed or aimed in a desired direction. The group 11 includes for example tubes 13 and 14 and the group 12 includestubes 15 and 16. i

For sighting the target to be struck, there .is provided at any suitable point on the carrier 10, a telescopic orother sighting means which may comprise a telescope 21,

ill

pivotally mounted so as to rotate. The sighting line is indicated diagrammatically by a broken line 25, and the course of the projectiles from the groups 11- and 12 by ,similar broken lines 26 and 27 respectively.

The enemy target is shown as comprising a marine vessel 30 and the dispersion of the projectiles at the target with respect to the sighting line 25 by the broken lines 31 and 32.

The sighting means ortelescope 21 is provided with a, gear rigidly secured thereto so as to rotate with it. The gear 40 meshes-with a pinion 41 upon a shaft 42 of a suitable transmitter 44 electrically conv operating mechanism is provided with a shaft 5.1 integral therewith, and there is mounted on said shaft a pinion 52 which meshes with a gear 53. The gear ratios 40,

v 41 and 52, 53 are so proportioned that the gear 53 repeats the motion of the gear- 40. The gear 53 is fixed to a shaft 55 journaled in the base plate and having a bearing in an upper frame number 56.

Keyed or otherwise secured to the upper end of the shaft is anarm having anupper face witha' series of graduations 61, calibrated in desired units of linear measurement, as for example, in yards. Slidably mounted upon, the arm 60 is a T-shaped cross member 62 having a window or opening 63 throughwhich the graduations 61 may be observed. A suitable fastening means such as a clamp screw 64 is provided for maintaing the cross member 62 in position proximate a desired graduation. A pair of outwardly extending arms 66 and 67 integral with the cross member 62 is fixed at a predetermined angle with respect to the arm 60, for example, atright angles thereto.

The upper faces of the arms 66 and 67 are each provided with a series of graduations 68 and 69 respectively, laid out according with the same scale used for the gradua-' tions 61.

For indicating the desired dispersion or convergence of the projectile courses, so

that the several groups of projectiles will.

strike the target at predetermined spaced points, there is-provided on the arms 66 and 67 respectively, a pair of sliding members vframe member 56 and the base The shafts 85 and 86 are spaced trom the respectively.

71 and 72. These may be adjustably positioned in accordance with the spacing desired, the readings being taken by means .for as will be subsequently set forth.

For indicating the degree of parallelism of the projectile courses with respect to the line of sight of the telescope 21, there is provided a pair of arms 81 and 82 arranged to extend in the same general direction as the arm 60 in such manner that the slots 78 and 79 therein engage the respective pins 71 and 72. The setting of the arms 81 and 82 is thus determined by the adjust-' mentof the members 71 and 72. The arms 81 and 82 are keyed or otherwise secured to the upper ends of a pair of shafts 85 and 86 which are rotatably mounted in the upper plate 50.

shaft 55 on the same scale of linear measurement used in calibrating the graduations 61,68 and 69, and the distances are proportionalto the spacing of the respective groups 11 and 12 of projecting apparatus relative to the sighting means 21.

For controlling the angularity of the respective groups 11 and 12 of projecting ap paratus, there is provided a pair of electrical transmitters 90 and 91 of suitable design, arranged to be mounted on the base plate 50. The operating portions of said transmitters are controlled by upstanding shafts, to which are secured pinions, such as 92 and 93 respectively, meshing with controlling gear wheels 94 and 95. keyed or otherwise secured to the shafts 85 and 86, Thus the motion of the arms 81 and 82 is communicated to the associated electrical transmitters 90 and 91.

,F or repeating the motion of the transmitters 90 and 91, there are provided a cor-. responding pair of electrical repeaters 100 and 101 connected by suitable cables 102 and 103 with the transmitters. Suitable sources of energy, such as batteries 10% and 105, may be provided for energizing the repeater circuits. The repeaters 100 and 101 are provided with pinions 106 and 107 which mesh with a pair of gear wheels 108 and 109 respectively. These are secured to the rotatable supports (not shown) upon which the groups of projecting apparatus are mounted, so that operation of the repeaters causes rotation of the projecting apparatus. The ratios of the gears are such that the gears 108 and 109 move in synchronism with the gears 94 and 95.

In the operation of the form of the invention shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the

telescope 21is sighted upon a desired point on the target 30. This causes the arm 60 to take up a position parallel to that of the telescope 21, as the transmitter 44: and repeater 4.6 always keep the telescope 21 and the arm 60 pointing in the same direction. The sliding member 62 is then moved to a position indicated by the graduations 61 on the arm 60, which corresponds to the range of the enemy, this range being obtained by any suitable and Well-known means not shown herein. This slider 62 is then clamped in this position by means of the thumb screw 64:. The sliding members 71 and 72 are moved upon the arms 66 and 67 to positions which correspond to the desired dispersion of the projectiles, as indicated by the graduations 68 and 69. These dispersions are shown in Fig. 1 by the lines 31 and 32. The arms 81 and 82 will therefore have assumed certain positions which are determined by the positions of the arm 60, sliding member 62 and the sliding mem bers 71 and 72 in combination. The positions of the arms 81 and 82 will be transmitted by the respective repeating systems to the gears 108 and 109 which cause the projecting apparatus, suchas torpedo tubes 13, 14 and 15, 16 to be oriented, so that when the torpedoes or other projectiles which they contain, are fired they will move along lines 26 and 27, as shownin Fig. 1, and give the desired dispersion, as indicated by the lines '31 and 32.

It is evident therefore that the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 represents in miniature the conditions shown in Fig. 1, and that as the position of the enemy changes with respect to the longitudinal axis of the carrier, the arms 60, 81 and 82 will also take up corresponding positions so that the projecting oriented taking into account the range of the enemy, the desired dispersion, the distances between the projecting apparatus and the sighting means, and the angular position of the enemy with respect to the longitudinal axis of the carrier.

Various changes or modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the sighting means 21-may be positioned at any desired point on the carrier 10, instead of intermediate the apparatus groups 11 and 12 as shown, and the arm 60 may then he positioned accordingly, the layout being arranged according to the scale of linear measurement selected. It is therefore understood'that the scope of the invention is not to be limited by the particular" embodiment here selected for the purpose of illustration, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

What is claimed is apparatus 11 and 12 will always be properly 1. An apparatusfor controlling projectile firing comprising sighting means, a. plurality of projectors, predetermined direction maintaining means pertaining thereto and adapted to be positioned by said sighting means, and means mounted upon and cooperating with said direction maintaining means for modifying the position of said direction maintainlng means in accordance with a deslred dlvergence of the courses of the projectiles fired from the respective projectors.

2.'A system of salvo firing comprising sighting means, a rotatable member synchronized in movement with the. sighting means, weapons arranged in a plurality of groups and a corresponding other rotatable members exten ing in the same general direction as the first named member, each group of weapons being synchronized in movement with its respective member, the membersbeing spaced apart at their points'of support proportionally to the spacing of the sighting means and said groups of weapons,'a slide movable on one of said members having outwardly extending arms to engage free portions of the respect to each other in accordance with the their points of others of said members, said slide and arms being arranged to divert said members with range of a distant object.

3; A system of salvo firing comprising' the spacing of the sighting means and said groups of weapons, a slide movable on one of said members having outwardly extendmg arms to engage free portions of the others of said members, said slide and arms being arranged to divert said members with respect to each other in accordance with the range of a distant object the members and arms being provided with a scale calibrated in the scale used in spacing the points of support of said members. c

4:. A. system of salvo firing comprising sighting means, 'a rotatable member synchronized in movement with the sighting -means, weapons arranged in a plurality of groups, a corresponding plurality of other rotatable members extending in the same general direction as the first named member, each group of weapons being synchronized -m movement with its respective member, the

members being spaced apart at their points of support proportionally to the spacing of the sighting means and said groups of lurality of its respective weapons, and a separating bar for'diverging said members; f j

5. A system of salvo firing comprising sighting means, a rotatable member synchronized in movement with the sighting means, weaponsfiarranged in aplurality of groups, a corresponding plurality of other rotatable members extending in the same general direction as the first named member, each group of weapons. being synchronized in movement with its respective member, the members being spaced apart at their points of support proportionally to the spacing of the sighting means and said I groups of weapons, anda separating bar calibrated to said scale for diverging said members-a desired amount.

6. A- system of salvo firing comprising sighting means, a plurality of weapons, members synchronized with sa d sighting means and weapons, and means cooperating with said members for modifying their setting in accordance with a desired dispe r. sion and the range of the hostile object.

7. A system of salvo firing comprising sightingmeans, a plurality of weapons, members synchronized with said sighting -means and weapons, and a bar cooperating with said members for modifying their setting in accordance with a desired dispersionand the range, of the hostile object.

8. A system of salvo firing comprising sighting means, a plurality of weapons, members synchronized with said sighting means and weapons spaced apart propor-- tionally to the spacin of said sighting means and weapons, an meanscooperating with said members for modifying their setting in accordance with a desired dispersion and the range of the hostile ob. ect.

sighting means, a plurality of weapons,

members 5 synchronized with said sightingmeans and weapons spaced apart proportionally to the spacing'of' 'said sight ng means and weapons and calibrated accordlng Fto the scale of said spacing and means cooperating with said members for mod fymg their setting in accordance with a desired dispersion and v the range of the hostile object.

10. A system of salvo firing comprising sighting means, a plurality of weapons, members synchronized with said sighting means and weapons spacedapart proportionally to the spacing of said sighting means and weapons, at least one of said members having graduations calibrated to the-scale of spacing, and a separating bar slid'ably' mounted on the graduated member 'arrangedtto modify the angularity of theother members to a desired degree.

11. A system of salvo firing at a movable target comprising in combination movable 9L A system of salvo firing comprising 1 elongated sighting means,

-n1sm, mechanism actuated thereby to be aland spacing of the target with respect repeater mechanism.

- sighting an object to be strt 12. In a system of salvodiring, the 001m bination of rotatable sign ng means for an arm calibrated in units of linear measurement actuated in synchronism with said sighting means, a cross member slid'ably mounted on ed on arms extending said arm, and having its longitudinal axis at an angle to that of the arm and calibrated in the same units of measurement, a plurality of rotatable members pivotally mountin'the same general direction as the first named arm and engaging spaced points on said cross member, and projectors arranged in groups, each group being controlled by one of said arms.

13. In a system of salvo-firing, ,the combination of rotatable sighting means for sighting an' object to be struck, an arm calibrated in units of linear measurement actuated in synchronism with said sighting means, a cross member shdably mounted on said arm and having its longitudinal axis at a right angle to that of the arm and calibrat-ed in the same units of measurement, a plurality of rotatable members pivotally mounted on arms extending in the same general direction as the named arm and ably mounted engaging spaced points on said cross member, and projectors arranged in groups, each group being controlled by one of said arms.

14; In a system of salvo firing, the combination with control mechanism and a plurality of projectors spaced apart from the control mechanism, the control mechanism including a sighting tube movable into alignment with a target, oi a rotatable mounting for each of said projectors, a pivoted arm for each projector mounting operatively' connected to the respective mounting for controlling the movement thereof, a pivoted arm mounted intermediate the first named arms and operatively connected to said sighting tube and controlled by the movement thereof, and a slidable element calibratedto unitsrof linear measurement mounted on said last named ivoted arm and including indicators slidthereoni and adjustable into position to re resent the length of the target in similar units of linear measurement, said indicators having a pin and slot connection with each of the first named pivoted arms.

15. In a system of salvo firing, the combination with a plurality of projectors arranged in groups, a rotatable sighting tube arranged to be set into alignment with a target, an arm calibrated in units of linear measurement and operatively connected to said tube and controlled thereby, a cross bar slidably mounted on the arm and having extensions positioned substantially normal to the arm, said cross bar being calibrated in similar units of linear measurement, an indicator slidably mounted on each end of the cross bar, each of said indicators having a pin, a pair of pivoted arms extending in the same general direction as the first named arm and each having a slot to engage the pin of one of said indicators, and means operatively interconnecting each of the last named pivoted arms and a corresponding one of the groups of projectors for controlling the movement of the projectors.

16. In a system of salvo firing, the combination with control mechanism and a plu-' rality of projectors spaced apart from the control mechanism and arranged in spaced groups, the control mechanism including a telescope rotatable into alignment with a target, of a rotatable mounting for each of said groupsof projectors, a pivoted arm for each mounting operatively connected to the respective mounting for controlling themovement thereof and mounted in spaced relation, the spaclng being proportional to the spacing of the group of projectors, a

pivoted arm mounted intermediate the first named arms and operatively connected to the telescope and controlled by the movement thereof, and a slidable elementcali brated to units of measurement mounted on said last named pivoted arm and including indicators slidably mounted thereon and adjustable into position to represent the entent of the target, said indicators hav' a in and slot connection with each of tie iii'st named pivoted arms.

17. In a system of salvo firing, the combination with a plurality of projectors, arranged in groups, of a rotatable sighting device, arranged to be set into alignment with a target, an arm calibrated in units of linear measurement, repeating mechanism for moving said arm in synchronism with the rotatable sighting device, across piece slidably mounted on the arm and calibrated in the same units of measurement, a plurality of rotatable indicating devices pivotally mounted on arms extending in the same general direction as the first named arm and engaging spaced points on the cross piece and repeating mechanism for moving said projectors in synchronism with said last named arms respectively.

In testimony whereof 'I hereunto afiix my signature.

JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR. 

